The mums who walk out on their children…

Wales on Sunday, 17th August 2008
Mums are now choosing to walk out on their children when their marriage falls apart Wales on Sunday can reveal today.

Until a few years ago, it was unthinkable that a mum would want to leave her kids with her ex-husband after a divorce.

But, in a modern-day role reversal, a small but increasing number are deciding it would be best for the kids to stay with dad. And the reason? So mum can start afresh with her new lover, say lawyers.

Another trigger is the rise of the working mum and the parallel rise of the hands-on dad.

Lawyers also suspect a hidden agenda in some cases – where the new boyfriend forces a mum to choose between him or her children.

Melanie Hamer, partner at Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, said: “In the past five years, it has become more regular.

“Perhaps they’re thinking of the children. They’re desperate to get out of the marital home so they can live with their new boyfriend. They think it’s better for the children to stay in the same house. They might see the children as getting in the way. It could be that they had to choose between their children and their new partner.

“As a mother, I struggle with it, but it’s each to their own.”

“I suppose we shouldn’t be shocked by it really, because it’s the modern age. There’s no reason why a father can’t be as good a parent as a mother. We’ve had cases where it’s worked quite successfully.”